A 1909 postcard showing Great Northern Railway electric locos in the Cascade Mountains of Washington state, USA. The box-cab locomotives are seen exiting from Cascade Tunnel, built at Stevens Pass about 60 miles (100 km) east of Everett, north of Seattle. The original 2.63 mile (4.2 km) tunnel was completed in 1900 but had a smoke problem, as it had a 1.7% (1:59) gradient eastbound, close to the ruling gradient of 2.2%. The tunnel was electrified, with the project completed on 10 July 1909, eliminating the problem. The (unusual) system used was three-phase AC, of 6600 volts at 25 Hz from a 5 MW hydroelectric plant on the Wenatchee River just west of Leavenworth. The tunnel section only was electrified; 4.0 route-miles or 6.0 track-miles. Four 1500 hp locomotives weighing 115 tons each were supplied by the American Locomotive Co.
It was replaced by a second, more direct 7.8 mile (12.5 km) tunnel route in 1929.
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